Harris' emphasis on maternal health care is paying dividends with Black women voters

Vice President Kamala Harris is seeing a surge of support from Black women voters galvanized in part by her work on health care issues such as maternal mortality, reproductive rights and gun control.

The enthusiasm may be key for Democratic turnout at the polls in critical battleground states.

Black women have always been among the most reliable voters in the Democratic base and were central to former President Barack Obama's victories in 2008 and 2012. Enthusiasm was also robust for President Joe Biden in 2020. But this year, before he bowed out of the race and Harris became the Democratic nominee, his support among this critical demographic had been fading, which could have dampened turnout in swing states.